US Army awards MAG Aerospace and L3Harris contract for enhanced ISR aircraft
MAG Aerospace and L3Harris will use Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft for ATHENA-R. (Photo: L3Harris)
The US Army has selected MAG Aerospace and L3Harris to deliver two enhanced ISR aircraft for the Army’s Theater-Level, High-Altitude Expeditionary Next Airborne ISR-Radar (ATHENA-R) programme, providing high-altitude intelligence capabilities to meet global requirements.
Integrated on Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft, the system will help the army meet global intelligence requirements. Operating at high altitude will provide the aircraft greater survivability and LoS, both essential to help the army achieve its long-range precision fires modernisation priorities.
Designed to close the gap between the army’s medium- and high-altitude ISR aircraft fleet, the ATHENA-R programme will provide greater endurance, more payload capacity, longer stand-off ranges and leading-edge sensor technology in support of US combatant commands.
The US Army announced during the AUSA exhibition in October 2022 in Washington DC that it would launch a tender for ATHENA-R, with aircraft to be supplied on a contractor-owned, contractor-operated basis.
Related Articles
AUSA 2022: MAG Aerospace and L3Harris propose converted commercial bizjet for US Army airborne ISR
MAG Aerospace is currently the prime contractor for the army’s Sensor Technology Operations and Readiness (STORM) contract.
Besides winning a contract in September 2022 to develop Phase 2 of the army’s Multi-Domain Sensing System program, L3Harris supports an additional army ISR mission: the Airborne Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare (ARES) aircraft.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![Airbus launches final CSO observation satellite for French Armed Forces]()
Airbus launches final CSO observation satellite for French Armed Forces
Airbus was awarded the Composante Spatiale Optique (CSO) contract at the end of 2010. This included an option for a third satellite, which was activated after Germany joined the programme in 2015.
-
![Intelligence advantage: How real-time GEOINT is reshaping military decision-making (Studio)]()
Intelligence advantage: How real-time GEOINT is reshaping military decision-making (Studio)
In today’s contested operational environment, adaptability is key. The new Geospatial-Intelligence as a Service (GEO IaaS) solution from Fujitsu and MAIAR empowers militaries by enabling intelligence advantage, combining advanced technology with human expertise to deliver actionable insights.
-
![Israel sets up new department to boost development of AI and autonomy]()
Israel sets up new department to boost development of AI and autonomy
Israel will continue to develop autonomy for its weapons and platforms as it brings together defence personnel, academia and industry.
-
![Clavister contracted to supply cyber protection for CV90s]()
Clavister contracted to supply cyber protection for CV90s
Clavister CyberArmour, an integrated defence cybersecurity system, will be used on BAE Systems Hägglunds’ CV90 platform in deployments with a Scandinavian country, as well as in an eastern European nation.
-
![Lockheed Martin completes tactical satellite demonstration and prepares for launch]()
Lockheed Martin completes tactical satellite demonstration and prepares for launch
The tactical satellite (TacSat) is an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system and will participate in exercises in 2025.
-
![AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family]()
AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family
The airborne three-domain, the two ground-based and the ¼ ATR OpenVPX-based cross-domain systems were engineered to provide real-time security across multi-domain operations.
